Introduction
As an environmental scientist it is important to be knowledgeable about how organisms survive in changing environments. In order to do this it is important to understand the worlds biomes.
You have been contacted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to research problems that have been occurring in each of the seven biomes found in the world. It is your job to study the problems that have been reported to the agency and submit a report to the protection agency stating what adaptations are not occurring. Problems reported to the agency are as follows:
A. There have been sightings of caribou and polar bears in the desert.
B. Cushion plants are starting to grow 3feet in height.
C. The permafrost has not melted this year.
D. Birds have not migrated to the taiga this year.
E. The leaves in the deciduous forest are not falling. What could be causing this?
F.
G.
I. In order for life to survive in a biome, it is essential that some type of adaptation occurs. What does adaptation mean? Think about it and then explore the following website. Fill in the adaptation concept map by clicking the link below and printing it out.
Worksheet: Adaptation Concept Map
EARTH SCIENCE EXPLORERwebsite
II. Task B. Researching the six biomes:
First you need to research biomes and find out as much as you can about each one. You will need to print out the table and then search the following websites to begin collecting your data.
You will need to fill out the table or concept map for each of the following land biomes; tundra, taiga, rainforests, deserts, grasslands, and temperate/deciduous forests.
Research plant life, plant life adaptations, animals, animal adaptations, location/what the geography is like and its climate. Then match the problem with its particular biome, state the problem and what effects the problem will have on that particular biome. Make recommendations to
fix the problem or tell what adaptations should be occurring to ensure the survival of the plant, animal or biome.
Use the following three websites to research the six biomes.
MBGnetwebsite
Nature Works website
EARTH SCIENCE EXPLORERwebsite
